Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1887-01-06
HUGH KENNETH'S MOLLY BAwN =
BY NJ. Ell ZEN HOLAHAH.

feet OF her GUARDIAN, ana gazing dcrOsS
the gay groups on lawn and terrace with
wistful, rebellious eyes. 'They are all
SO frivolous, so tiresome, and foolish
men and women. i shall be glad when
they are gone Hugh"
Hugh Kenneth looks into the sweet
childish face, weary tenderness in his
own, but in his dark stern eyes the light
that never shone on land or sea.
seYou are still nay 'Molly Bawn." he
saps in low voice, light humor under
lined with deep emotion in his deep,
pleasant tones. "AIthOugh eighteen now
Won are still dear little Molly Bawn, of
eight. who greeted my arrival at Edge
eliffe with {. million questions and sus
piciOns."
With a smile of retrospective thought
Molly chances up into the face above her.
What d strong fine face it is, despite
the stern-almost forbidding irmness
which after all, but renders the owner
more trustworthy grandly strong
in appearance.
The eyes are dark and deep-t0uched
when in repose, with q mixture of stern
Eess and melancholy.
Only when resting on Molly Lesrep
they are filled with that beautiful tender
light which glorifes the ehtire face.
From his face, Molly's eyes wandered
quickly to where a golden-headed cane
strong and stout to endure heavy We1g hit
rests against his chair, almost as If she
had not expected to find it there.
He is lame-will be lame as long as
life lasts-this man with the strong,
grand face, and mind OF marvellous
power.
MoIly's blue eyes are suddenly flooded
with tears. Such pity it is, that, while
those frivolous people dance, sing, t1lrt,
and feast within the halls of his home,
that he, the grandest and best of them,
must sit YEARLY by, growing more weary
by contrast with their hT, untrammeled
gayety!
He is not slow to note the look, or the
tears of quick sympathy that followed it:
but only smile rests on his lips-a smile
of slow sad tenderness, as his hand, more
earessing rests on her golden head.
ssDon't. little girl" he says softly.
Gone tear of yours brings me more pain
than all the years have ever brought. I
have become used to it now, little girl;
you, teo, should become sol"
For answer she broke into storm of
passionate, irrepressible sobs.
II can never get used to it, Hugh never"
she sobs hiding her face against his hand.
"Ohi the pity Of 1.-THE cruelty of ito
you! And but for papa and me, you
should never have done it. It did not mat
teri was not worth it; and even the
sacrafce of your stronghold your limb
did not save him."
''That is the pity of it, little girl" sad
". "That after all could not save him.
He-your father-was dearer to me than
all the world, Molly, except you, Not on
IT, tha IF
was &C his service, but-wel it was all of
NO use"
ssI shall never forget it" the sobs are
hushed to the law, awed voice-"the hor-
rors of that night, although [ was but
fourteen. We had started out so gayly
on our European trip-papa and you and
I. Then-that night when the hotel took
6rel 1t was horrible-horrible, and l
thought [ should GO mad when they
auried him, and-you [ thought was dy
ing too! All! how You suffered, Hugh;
and hated the doctors so because they
hurt you"
"But you nursed me though, little girl"
he says more cheerfuly. ''You were then
my Molly Bawn' too! 1 am only glad
that / survived to stand between you and
the world Molly"
She nestles close to his knee, q look of
tender reverence on her lovely face, wet
with recent tears.
s'You have beer so good to me, HEgh,"
she says softly; $50 awful good! 1 can
never repayeyou half! You have been
father, mother-everything to me since
Everything" he says lightly! Ronayne
Is thatl'
moment she is silent, sitting erect,
L L i al
gay groups of people on the shadowy,
glinting lake and Hugh scans her out
lined face with a deep hush of repression
on his own.
>'Yes." she says turning suddenly, so
suddenly that he starts aud almost flush
es, and laying one tiny hand on his,
Everything but lover. You will not be
Sngry-or hurt, Hugh, if / tell you some
thing heard the ladies talking about d
little while ago?"
There is a wistful WEAKNESS in her
voice as she asks the question, and a
vague sadness in the lovely eyes that
meet, and turn from his.
''Surely not" he answers lightly still.
Sam not your confidential friend?"
"They said that-long ago-four years
ago, when we went to Europe-you we're
engaged to marry Miss Adair, the beauti-
full, queenly blonde who arrived yester-
day. They said that when you returned
different lame forever = she" Molly
avoids his eyes, which are grave and
stern )-"she refuscd-or, rather, she &C.
eepted the freedom you offered her. Is it
SO, Hugh? Between papa and I, who
loved you so well, have we wrecked your
life in any way?"
'Hush!"-in the sternest voice he ever
used to her. "You must not listen to
tales those gossiping women my tell,
Molly. See there is Ronayne looking for
you; so take off that doleful face, which
should not disfgure my Molly Bawn.'"
As she rises slowly oppressed by the
vague, dull pain at her heart and goes to
meet Cyrus Ronayne, Alice Adair, an
exquisite fashionable blonde, in cling